From the moment Chu Zhao was reborn, she had been determined to return to the Border Commandery to see her father. Avoiding Xiao Xun and the turmoil in the capital was one reason, but more importantly, she wanted to see her father before his death and accompany him in his final days.
Unexpectedly, in this life, though not trapped by Xiao Xun, she still became the Empress and entered this Imperial City.
Once inside the Imperial City, it was difficult to come and go freely.
"Did my father say anything?" Chu Zhao asked softly. "What did Brother Zhang say?"
Xie Yanlai frowned, "Is there any need to say it? Don’t you already know it in your heart? After all your efforts, and now you’re still clinging to me to deliver letters—isn’t it all for your father?"
Chu Zhao fell silent.
"Don’t you want to see your father?" Xie Yanlai said. "Why did you become this Empress?"
Why did she become this Empress? Chu Zhao looked up at Xie Yanlai, couldn’t help but smile, then pressed her lips together.
"It was for my father," she murmured.
To survive, to prevent the tragedy of her previous life from repeating, to keep her father from being manipulated, to ensure his peaceful and dignified departure in this life—
Xie Yanlai averted his gaze. "Then go."
With that, he turned and walked away.
Chu Zhao stood where she was, watching him take one step, two steps, three steps—then in the next moment, he turned back.
"You don’t trust this one, you don’t trust that one; you provoke this one, you provoke that one," he said irritably. "And now you don’t even dare to leave, do you?"
Chu Zhao chuckled, then after a moment of thought, said seriously, "It’s not that I don’t dare. It’s just that I feel now—"
"Now isn’t the right time? The court is unstable?" Xie Yanlai sneered. "If Grand Tutor Deng and Young Master Xie the Third lose their power, they’ll have nothing left. So they will definitely protect their authority and ensure the court remains stable."
Chu Zhao looked at him and hummed in agreement.
"As for that little brat," Xie Yanlai said, "he is power itself. Even if Young Master Xie the Third and Grand Tutor Deng wish each other dead, they will both protect him."
Chu Zhao nodded again.
"So what are you still worried about?" Xie Yanlai asked.
Chu Zhao looked at him and said frankly, "The position of Empress."
Hearing this, Xie Yanlai gave a mocking smile. Of course—the position of Empress. It wasn’t about the court’s instability; it was about her fear of losing her position as Empress. Whether it was Deng Yi or Xie Yanfang, both had schemed for years. Their rise to the court was logical and unsurprising. Only this Chu Zhao, a young girl who emerged amidst the chaos, seized the opportunity to secure the position of Empress—
Her father was dying. Even with the Dragon Guard Army in hand, stabilizing her position as Empress would not be easy.
How could she bear to leave?
Xie Yanlai raised his hand in a salute. "This subject has spoken out of turn."
With that, he turned and strode away.
Chu Zhao stood where she was, watching him leave, and sighed softly.
She didn’t trust Deng Yi or Xie Yanfang. Both had been formidable in her previous life. Compared to them, she had merely seized the initiative this time; otherwise, she wouldn’t even have the right to speak of trust.
The court was unstable, A Yu was still young—she feared that if she left, she might never return.
Everything she had just gained would vanish like smoke, as if it were all a dream.
She was already involved. If she lost it all now, her father, herself, the people her father had left behind, even those her mother had left behind—none would come to a good end.
Lost in thought for a moment, she turned and slowly walked back to her study. Before she could sit down, heavy footsteps sounded as someone strode in forcefully.
Chu Zhao turned her head and saw Xie Yanlai, who had left only to return again.Pushed aside, A Le did not follow him in, standing outside with a pout.
Chu Zhao looked at him, blinked, and asked, "Does my minister have any further advice?"
...
...
Xie Yanlai felt both annoyed and amused. He had just stormed off in a huff, only to return and have the girl throw these words back at him like a needle piercing through his facade.
Forget it.
The kingdom was unstable, people were panicked, and she and her father were in such a predicament. What was the point of arguing with her?
"Don’t worry," he said. "Since you’ve entrusted the Dragon Guard Army to me, I will help you protect your position as Empress. Go back and see your father."
Chu Zhao stared at him, momentarily dazed. "A Jiu, why are you so good to me?"
What nonsense! How was this being good to her! Xie Yanlai sneered, "There’s no one else here, no need for this."
Chu Zhao chuckled again. "When there’s no one else, that’s when the truth comes out."
Even more outrageous!
Xie Yanlai said coldly, "If you keep this up, I’ll quit."
Chu Zhao quickly nodded with a smile. "Alright, alright, I won’t say anymore." She raised an eyebrow, grinning as she pressed a hand to her chest. "I’ll remember it in my heart."
Xie Yanlai stared at her coldly.
Chu Zhao composed her expression. "I know you’re doing this for yourself."
That was more like it. Xie Yanlai snorted and turned to leave.
Chu Zhao watched him without a word, a smile reappearing at the corner of her lips.
Xie Yanlai took two steps, then turned back abruptly.
The smile on Chu Zhao’s lips vanished instantly as she looked at him seriously.
"Of course, compared to Xie San and Deng Yi, I’m not exactly trustworthy either, and I might not actually be able to hold onto it. But," Xie Yanlai said calmly, looking at the girl, "Miss A Fu deceived so many people just to return to the Border Commandery. Miss Chu struck her own brother over an invitation to the Hope Spring Garden Literary Gathering, hosted the Chu Garden Literary Gathering, and on the night of the turmoil, fought her way through countless obstacles with the Little Highness, securing the throne for both of you—"
Chu Zhao watched him. Hearing it laid out like this, since her rebirth, he had indeed known her the longest.
Xie Yanlai looked at the girl.
"So, Miss Chu, you’re so capable. Even if I fail to protect your position as Empress, you can take it back yourself."
Chu Zhao nodded slowly at him.
Xie Yanlai said nothing more and turned to leave.
Chu Zhao remained silent, watching him take one, two, three steps to the door. One foot crossed the threshold, while the other paused.
"I—" Xie Yanlai did not turn back, his voice muffled. "I’ve always regretted not running back to see my mother right away."
Back then, as a young boy standing in the Xie family mansion, he was frightened and nervous. Everything he saw, whether people or objects, was so extravagant. Everyone told him that from then on, he would live a good life.
He missed his mother dearly but thought that if he could bring her to enjoy such a life, he would stay. One day, two days, three days—
By the time he finally couldn’t bear it and ran out of the Xie residence to find his mother, all he saw was her corpse.
If he hadn’t hesitated and had gone back to find her immediately, could he have stopped her from taking her own life?
Even if he couldn’t stop her, at least he could have seen her one last time and told her how much he missed her.
"Some people and things in this world, once lost, are gone forever. No matter how much you gain in the future, it can never make up for it."
After saying this, the young man stepped over the threshold and strode away.
Chu Zhao stood inside the hall, watching him go, a tear trickling from the corner of her eye.She certainly knew how regrettable it was to lose someone and make mistakes.
Fortunately, heaven took pity and gave her a second chance. She truly could not miss it again.
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